Legislative Activity

The Second Chance at Life Act of 2025 establishes new federal requirements for abortion providers offering chemical abortions involving two drugs. These rules mandate that doctors inform women about the possibility of reversing the effects of the first pill, mifepristone, at least 24 hours in advance. The law also requires specific signage in clinics and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create an accessible, privacy-focused website detailing reversal information. Finally, it creates a pathway for civil lawsuits against providers who knowingly violate these new informed consent and disclosure mandates.

This resolution supports designating the week of September 21 through September 27, 2025, as "Gold Star Families Remembrance Week." The measure aims to officially recognize and honor the profound sacrifices made by families who have lost a loved one serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It encourages communities nationwide to observe this week through acts of service and by celebrating the lives of these fallen service members.

The Growing University AI Research for Defense Act (GUARD Act) authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institutes at eligible senior military colleges. These institutes will focus on critical defense-related AI challenges through broad partnerships across government, academia, and industry. The funding supports research, data sharing, testing environments, and workforce development exclusively within the United States.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation establish a rule requiring AM broadcast radio receivers to be installed as standard equipment in new passenger motor vehicles. This requirement aims to ensure public access to AM radio signals, which are often used for emergency alerts. The bill also directs a GAO study on the effectiveness of AM radio within the national emergency alert system compared to other technologies. Finally, the Act preempts state and local laws on this matter and includes a sunset provision eight years after enactment.

The Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 ensures that active duty military personnel and essential civilian support staff continue to receive their pay if Congress has not yet passed the full budget for fiscal year 2026. This act provides automatic continuing appropriations from the Treasury to prevent a lapse in military salaries due to budget delays. The funding automatically terminates once a new budget or continuing resolution is passed, or on January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

The Business Owners Protection Act of 2025 aims to streamline regulations affecting businesses by repealing certain unused authorities related to mandatory predispute arbitration and fiduciary duties. This bill modifies the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) authority under existing securities laws. Ultimately, the Act removes specific regulatory mandates concerning arbitration and standards of conduct.

The Keeping Deposits Local Act modifies how reciprocal deposits held by agent institutions are calculated to ensure they are not classified as funds obtained through a deposit broker. It establishes specific tiered percentages based on an institution's total liabilities for this calculation and requires agent institutions to maintain strong CAMELS ratings. Furthermore, the bill mandates the FDIC and the Federal Reserve to conduct a comprehensive study on the performance, usage, and risks associated with reciprocal deposits, reporting their findings to Congress within six months.

This bill, the **September 11 Day of Remembrance Act**, officially designates September 11th as a legal public holiday. This amendment updates federal law to recognize September 11th as the "September 11 Day of Remembrance," observed annually. Consequently, federal employees will observe this day as a recognized federal holiday.

The American Franchise Act aims to protect the traditional franchise business model by clarifying the definition of a "joint employer." This legislation establishes that a franchisor is only considered a joint employer if it exercises "substantial direct and immediate control" over the essential terms of employment for a franchisee's workers. This change specifically targets liability risks associated with maintaining brand standards, ensuring franchisors are not automatically held responsible for local labor practices. The new standard applies prospectively to future legal proceedings.

The Protect LNG Act of 2025 aims to streamline and stabilize the permitting process for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. It ensures that existing facility approvals remain valid even if challenged in court over environmental reviews, requiring courts to remand violations to agencies for correction rather than invalidating permits. Furthermore, the Act centralizes legal challenges to these covered applications exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals with geographic jurisdiction over the facility, subject to a strict 90-day filing deadline.

The FIREARM Act aims to protect licensed firearm dealers from overly harsh penalties for minor or self-reported mistakes. It establishes new standards requiring the government to provide notice and an opportunity for dealers to correct violations before license revocation. Furthermore, the bill retroactively applies these protections to licenses previously revoked under a specific 2021 enforcement policy, allowing affected individuals a path to reapply.

This resolution expresses the strong support of Congress for designating September 22nd as "National Military and Veterans Suicide Awareness Day." The goal is to formally recognize the sacrifices of service members and veterans while raising crucial awareness about the mental health challenges and suicide risks they face. By establishing this day, the resolution aims to reduce stigma and encourage greater focus on providing necessary support and resources to this population.

The Taskforce for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams Act (TRAPS Act) establishes a new Task Force led by the Secretary of the Treasury. This diverse group, including federal agencies, industry experts, and consumer advocates, will study evolving payment scams. The Task Force is charged with developing cross-sector prevention strategies and submitting comprehensive recommendations for new laws and improved coordination to combat these fraudulent activities.

This resolution commends the heroic efforts and courageous response of the Coast Guard, specifically Air Station Corpus Christi and the crew of CG-6553, following catastrophic flooding in central Texas. It specifically honors the crew for successfully executing dangerous rescues amid severe weather and recognizes the broader Coast Guard deployment. Furthermore, the resolution extends gratitude to all federal, state, local responders, and volunteers who aided in the disaster relief efforts.

The SAVES Act establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. These grants, up to $\$2,000,000$ each, will fund the training and provision of service dogs for veterans with qualifying conditions like PTSD or TBI. The bill also extends the expiration date for certain limits on veterans' pension payments until February 2033.

The Veterans ACCESS Act of 2025 seeks to improve veterans' healthcare by revising the Veterans Community Care Program, enhancing mental health treatment programs, and implementing other healthcare improvements. Title I revises eligibility standards for community care, ensures veterans are informed about their options, and addresses care preferences and telehealth options. Title II standardizes eligibility for mental health programs, improves care quality, and ensures timely access to treatment. Title III focuses on improving healthcare services through online tools, modifying innovation programs, and increasing reporting on healthcare processes.

This bill officially renames the United States Postal Service facility located at 505 East 9th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas. The building will now be known as the "Mayor Jerry H. Hodge Post Office Building." This designation requires all official records and documents to use the new name for this specific location.

The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act establishes federal standards for student-athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, allowing athletes to profit from endorsements while setting specific rules for agents and institutional compensation. The bill mandates enhanced support services, medical guarantees, and scholarship protections for athletes at high-revenue institutions. Furthermore, it grants states enforcement power over NIL violations and shields compliance actions from antitrust liability, while clarifying that student-athletes are not automatically considered employees.

The PRIME Act, or Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act, exempts custom slaughter facilities from federal inspection requirements for meat that is processed and sold only within the state of origin. To qualify, facilities must comply with all applicable state laws regarding slaughter and preparation. This legislation ensures that states retain the authority to enforce their own, potentially stricter, regulations on local meat processing.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act strictly prohibits the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to individuals. This legislation prevents the Fed from developing, testing, or implementing any digital currency that functions as a direct liability of the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, Congress asserts that any authority to create such a digital asset must explicitly come from Congress itself.